Date of Conviction: 16/10/1788

Age at Conviction: 19

Crime Convicted of: Theft

Court Convicted at: Lancaster Quarter Sessions (held at unknown location, Manchester)

Sentence Length: 7 Years

Ship Transported on: Mary Anne (1)

Where Arrived: Port Jackson, New South Wales

Departure Date: 16/02/1791

Arrival Date: 09/07/1791

Biography: Betty (also know as Elizabeth and Mersey) was from Heaton Norris, Manchester. She had stolen a pewter pint pot from a Betty Knowles. She was sent with a group of six prisoners from Manchester to Lancaster to await transportation. Betty was meant to sail a year earlier on board the Neptune but was held over and sailed on the Mary Anne.

In New South Wales, by the time of the 1806 muster, Betty was noted as free by servitude and was living with John Jones (ship- unknown) in a common law relationship which was a turbulent and alcohol fuelled relationship. Tragically, at home on Philip Street, during a drunken fight whilst ironing, Betty was killed by him from a knife wound to the stomach in March 1811. It was claimed that Betty (who survived for a further day after her small intestine was penetrated) said she had not believed John stabbed her with the intent to kill her and was defending himself as she was trying to hit him with the iron.

She was recorded as aged 50 upon her death and buried at the Old Sydney Burial Ground. John was found guilty of manslaughter and served six months.